Curtain structure



F. E. TWISS CURTAIN STRUCTURE Aug. 20, 1935.

Filed Feb. 6. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 29, I935 2,011,599 CURTAIN STRUCTURE .Frank E. Twiss, Taunton, Mass. Application. February 6, 1934, Serial No. 710,017

V 7 'Claims. My invention relates to improvements in shutter'actuators, with particular reference to such mobile structure.

ancingmeans is employed for weight of thercurtain so as to'lighten the :load

'A' further object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby a stabilizing or counterbalbalancing the 1 upon the source of power:

curtain actuating mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide'brake means for. initially resisting the raising and lowering of thecurtain, there preferably being a lost motion connection between the elements of the curtainactuating mechanism. so that'the same will not be working against the load of. the weight" of the curtain while: overcoming thebrakemeans. 1

. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawings. I A r Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designateilike parts throughout;

Figure. 1 is a sectional view through the rear portion of an automobile body showing my invention partly in section, applied thereto in relation to the rear window, the curtain being in the lowered position. V

Figure 2 is across sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is atop plan View of my invention, a portion ofthe curtain and coacting parts being eliminated. I V

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional .view of the Figure 5.is an end elevation thereof.

Figures 6, 7 :and 8 are sectional views taken on the lines 66,f1 1 and 8-8, respectively of Figure 4;

a Figure 9 is adetail longitudinal sectional view showing the'brake mechanism in inoperative or contracted" position.

7 Figure 10 is a similar View as illustrated in Fig ure 9, the brake mechanism in this instance being shown in operative or expanded position and, Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of "an end portion" of the spiral rotating element or strip showing the slot therein for actuating the brake shoe.

A typical automobile body l2 having top and tached upholstcring material H. The roof or top It is spaced from the upholstering I! and forms a space l9 therebetween. Within thisspace 59, I attach my curtain actuating mechanism 29 to 1 and 2, the curtain is of width as to completely in its lowered position As shown in Figures a sufiicient length and The curtain actuating mechanism comprises a pairof solenoid magnets including coils 2'l'and 28 wound upon a suitable brass tube 29, one end of which is extended a suflicient distance to encompass a brake 3G and counterbalancing mechanism One end of the tube is closed by a plug 32 and the other end by a bearing 33, at which points supports 34 embrace the tube for securing the entire mechanism to'any suitable spacing member 55 hereinbefore set forth. Of course supports 34 can be located at different points than indicated- The bearing 33 hasjournaled therethrough a shaft 35, one end of which terminates in and forms part of the brake mechanism 39. The otber'end extends beyond the tube and has secured toit a pulley 36 by means ofa set screw 31. Suitable roller bearings mechanism 38 is interposed between the pulley 36 and tube 29 for rendering efiicient rotation of thepulleyrelative to the tube.

Slidably mounted within the tube 29 is a core 39 common to both solenoid coils 27, 2S and havinga central bore 40. Each end of the core from each other a sufficient distance to receive beis provided with a set of dowel pins M and lla for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

strip G2, the free end of which (Figure. 4;) is passed within one end of the bore ll) and between the dowel pins ii. The dowel pins M beingspaced tween them the strip 4.2., The dowel pins iia,

at theother end. of the core, are so positioned asto receive between them'a flat strip 43 which is fixed to the plug 32 as at M, thus, while allowing longitudinal movement of the core 39, preventing anyrotating movement; It will be noted that the coreis of- -a greater length than either fof the coilsandl this arrangement and construction of form a pair of solenoids,"

the coils, tube and core the resultant operation of whichwill be hereinafter described. Suitable lead wires 45,46 and M are connected thereto and have switchesfifland" 49 for controlling a source of power50 for operating the solenoids. p p

' The counterbalance mechanism '3! takes-up the slack both in the strap 2Gand curtain 22 when the same isinthelowered position. This frequently occurs when: the bar on'the lower end of the curtain is prevented, for any reason from furtherdownward movement. The mechanism 3i is comprised of a-coil'spring which surrounds V the shaft 35 having its outer end 5 I secured to the pu11ey, 3E-and its inner end 52 secured'to the bearingii', The degreeof compensation may be changedyor. varied by adjusting the pulley 36 on 4 the shah- 35 through the'medium of the set screw to rotate the priately formed to'insure pro is operated to close 'pins'el, carriedby the core, on 575- 31. Any" adjustment" of the ,pulley relative to the shaft will of course increase ordecrease as the case may be, the tension of the coil spring. Thus, it will be readily understood, thatduring the low ering operation of the curtain, thespring is being compressed about the shaft 35 and upon the stopping oi the rotationof the shaft, the spring reacts tion: to compensate forthe distance. provided by the play or lost motion between the relative cooperating partsor members. The braking mechanism comprises, an en,- larged portion of the shaft and is slotted as at .55 to receive the end 56 of the spiral strip 32. Another $1 013.51. is positioned .at right angles to the slot and receives the brake'shoe. 58 which is held therein by meansoi a pivot 59. A bore or opening contains a coil spring the upper end -of which seats againstthe shoe 58 and normally urges the upper race the inner, surface of sitive engagement. The 'shoe is-providedwith an extended portion fi2-positioned within a'slot'or opening 62 formed in the end 56 of the strip 42 and is provided with inclined surfaces 64- and 65 which are adapted to walls'of the slot or opening -53. a 1 v In operation, the curtain being in the lowered position (the relative position of. the parts being shown in Figures 4 to-8,;inclusive) theswitch 18 the circuitbetween'the wires I it, Aland'source of power-5U. This actionener- .gizesthe-coi1 28 which serves to move or pull the core 39'ina direction toward. the brake mechanism. .'I'he longitudinal movement of the core, which is prevented from rotating by the dowels Ala and strip 43, causes rotated due to the pressure exerted by thedowel, v the convolutions of thespiral strip. rotation of the spiral tion of the envelope 26. tion abuts the bottom of envelope 2i to limit exshaft and pulley inareverse direcr move-the core in imparting-a'reverse movementrto all the parts and lowering the curtain until the core 39 abuts of the shoeiin contact with the tube zsrwmch 1S appm' "tain; remote controlme'chanism foroperating said 'anisms for raising said the spiral strip 62; to be fixedly attached 7 erativemeans on said core and shaft whereby to e 1 s which is connected to the spiral strip 42 through Connected to and forming part of the brake mechanism Sfl is a spiral rotating element or The'web or strap 26 from the curtain 22 is connected to'the pulleyand as a result of the rotapulley the curtainris raised intothe The bar or weight 25 in this operatent of raising. However, it will be noted that before starting the operation, the brake mechanism isin' the position shown in Figure 10, thus serving to prevent relative movement between the shaft and housing. Upon the starting of the raising operation, the movement of the core through the dowel pins Ma imparts alateral thrust to the strip'M. ,This'thrust action permits of the strip $2 to advance withintlie slot 55 inc. manner, that,

4 contacts and .acts upon the 'inclinedface 65 of the extended'portion 62 of the the cam surface ii! shoe 58 .andforces the. shoe away'from;. the inner surface-of the tube, ,thus; releasing the" brakeand permitting free rotation takes. place, the core exerting a ;pull upon; the

'of-the'fassociated parts; In the lowering of the shade, the reverse'actior spiral strip and, as aconsequencathecam surface 6B formed in the slotfifi actson'thefacefiiofgthe extended portion, and forces theshoe-outofen:

gagementwith the tube, as. clearly shown in Figure.9.' ,While-the curtain; is being lowered, the spring of, the compensating mechanism is being compressed... The terminationof the rotation of the pulleyand shaft atjthe endofxthelowering operationipermits of the. spring toreactand take up the: slack and-l0st motion in the parts as hereto described.-.-The switch 48 of course op:

, erated to break the circuit andstop the actuating mechanism when the curtain' has reachedthede I sired level;

1 H The parts are soconstructedathat upon closing the-switchi lfl a circuit" betweenithe wires 45 and Miis' completed thus'energizing the coil 2'Lto the opposite direction, thereby,

plug 32 to limit the extent'of lowering movement. It is to be distinctlyunderstood that various changes and modifications" may be had in the construction and arrangement'of thevarious erable by said' pulley, .means connecting a said 7 engage cam surfaces 66 ands-I formed on oppgsite mechanism to said curtain and means connected to said mechanism for operating thesarne.

' erating said mechanism ,froma remote point and a device for concealing said curtain in raised position.--' 33. In a reeling "apparatus, a solenoidhaving an axially movab1e core, a driven shaftgawinding to saidshaft, and cooprotate the shaft upon linear movement of the core.

4. Shutter operating apparatus comprising in combination, a driving member, means for causing linear reciprocation of said member, a retatively driven member operable by said driving member, a drum carried by said driven member, a shutter, and flexible cable means attached to said drum and shutter. Y

5. Shutter actuating mechanism comprising in combination, a shutter arranged for movement in opposite directions, a drum, flexible cable means connecting said shutter and drum, a solenoid having an element supporting said drum in freely rotatable relation, an axially movable core in said solenoid, means for rotating said drum 7 by and upon movement of said core whereby to operate the shutter by winding and unwinding the cable means on the drum, and distant control means for actuating the solenoid.

6. In an automobile curtain operating construction, a curtain, means incorporated in the rear wall and top of the car body for guiding and concealing said curtain coincident with and after one of its operations, rotatable means in said top for operating the curtain, and meansconnecting said curtain with said rotatable means.

7. In an automobile curtain construction, a fiat sliding curtain, means connected to said ourtain for raising and lowering the same, a curved envelope-like guide and housing means for keeping the curtain in a substantially fiat condition at all times, and means including said last named means and a part of said curtain for limiting movement of the curtain in one direction.

FRANK E. 'I'WISS. 

